abstract: We illustrate how the problems of faithful encoding and correction of quantum information in physical systems can be investigated by embracing the operational notion of "distinguishability preservation". A measure of distinguishability of quantum states is given by the trace-norm distance. In fact, by using trace-norm isometries, we derive a "subsystem principle" for quantum information encoding, as well as necessary and sufficient conditions for error correction. A robustness analysis of the same issuess can also be developed by considering approximate isometries. Work in collaboration with L. Viola (Dartmouth College).